Punjab Govt Withdraws 'General Consent' Granted To CBI To Investigate Cases In The State

Therefore, CBI will now have to take permission from the State government on a case-to-case basis.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 (Central Act No. 25 of 1946), the Government of Punjab hereby withdraws the general consent accorded to the members of the Delhi Special Police Establishment, anytime herein before.

In view of revocation of all previous general consents issued earlier, prior consent of the Government of Punjab shall be required, hereinafter, on a case-to-case basis for investigation of any offence or class of offences under section 3 of the aforesaid Act, by the Delhi Special Police Establishment," the notification states. 

Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act provides that a member of the Delhi Special Police Establishment cannot exercise powers and jurisdiction under the Act in any area in a State without the consent of the Government of that State.

Last week, the Kerala Government had withdrawn the general consent to CBI. The Government of Maharashtra had withdrawn the 'general consent' last month. In July, this year, the Rajasthan Government had withdrawn its general consent accorded to the Central Bureau of Investigation. Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal governments had withdrawn their "general consent" in 2018 itself.